Torbjørn Bekken
(1919-2009)
The Norwegian designer Torbjørn Bekken graduated from the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in 1946. Fresh from school he was picked up by the progressive furniture and interior design company Rastad & Relling Tegnekontor, where he worked for most of his career. They were known for spotting design talents and their hands-on understanding of how the marked worked. Together with companies like Bruksbo Designstudio, Rastad & Relling were one of the pioneers in shaping the Norwegian design scene after the Second World War.
Bekken played a significant part in the design trends of the 1950-60s. All Scandinavian countries had a love for wood, and it was the obvious choice at the time. Bekken was a person who got his influence from pure function in combination with interior styles. He was also a man that liked technical challenges; machines were never a restriction, but a way to reach the masses. He has a solid production to his name but is still relatively unknown. It seems like he didn’t seek the spotlight, but rather preferred to work quietly behind the scenes.
